Automatic gas valve



1932- A. J. MILLIGAN AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE Filed Nov. 27, 1929 ENTOR,

Alb art I. In:

la 1 J ATTORNEY,

Patented Aug. 9, 1932 Parana arias ALBERT J. MILLIGAN, or SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE Application filed November 27, 1929.Serial No. 410,091.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic gas valves, and moreparticularly to gas valves for cooking stoves.

The principal object of the invention is to save gas consumption .byproviding means to automatically turn on the gas when a utensil is setover the burner, and turn off the gas when the utensil is removed. Otherob- ]ects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanyingdrawing the invention isdisclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it isnot limited to this form, because it may be embodied in other forms. Itis also to be understood that in and by the claims following thedescription it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form itmay be embodied.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gas burner and a part of a gas stovehaving this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section view of the-gas valve in normalclosed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary similar view showing the valve in openposition.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawing, referring toFigure 1, comprises the conventional gas stove top 1, having thedown-turned flange 2, and the grids 3, extending radially across theburner openings in the top of the stove.

The burner is mounted below the opening and projects its heat upwardbetween the grids 3. It comprises the perforated flame top 4,surmounting the mixing chamber 5. The throat 6 extends from the mixinchamber and terminates in the aspirator The usual louver 8 cooperateswith the front of the aspirator to regulate the volume of air admittedto the mixing chamber. This is the conventional gas stove, the detailsof which will vary, but to all of which this invention may be applied bymodifications well within the purview of the invention, by those skilledin the art.

The invention is interposed between the usual gas manifold pipe 9 andthe burner.

The gas valve has the nipple 10 screwed into the pipe 9. The nozzlellextends through the front of the aspirator 7 coaxial with the throat 6.

The hole 12 extends through the body 13, the nipple 10 and the nozzle11, to feed gas to the aspirator.

There is a transverse hole 14 through the body 13, intersecting the hole12. The pilot tube 15 is fixed in this hole 14 on one side of the body13. The stem of the valve'16 is threaded into the other side and adaptedto completely close the holes 12 and 14 to regulate or shut off the gasto the burner'and the pilot 15. The automatic valve comprises the piston17 slidable in the vertical hole 18 in the body 13, also bisecting thehole 12.

- The upper portion 19 is made heavy to cause the piston to descend. Itis centrally bored to receive the telescoping stem 20, held by the setscrew 21 threaded in the portion 19.

The sleeve 22 fixed to the weight 19 telescopes over he neck 23 of thebody 13, to prevent accumulations of grease or spilled food entering thevalve 17 l8. 75

The fulcrum bracket 24 is attached to the body 13 by the screw 25 andextends above the top 1 of the stove and is bent upward to form thebifurcated fulcrum 26, adjacent the V edge of the burner hole. 30

The operating trip lever 27, pivotally encircles the stem 20 under thehead 28 and rests in the fulcrum 26. I The trip end 27 of this lever 27extends abovethe plane of the grids 3, to about the vertical axis of theburner.

This invention operates substantially as follows:

The valve 16 is turned until it uncovers the hole 12 and the end of thepilot tube 15. The pilot is then lighted, which projects a pilot flameover the burner 4. I

A cooking utensil placed on the grid'3 depresses the tip of the lever27, rocking it on the fulcrum 26 and lifting against the head 28 of thestem 20 to raise the piston 17 and uncover thehole 12, admitting gas tothe burner from the pipe 9, as shown in Figure 2. The burner. ignited bythe pilot, continues to project its flame against the utensil until itis lifted off the tip of the lever 27.

When the utensil is lifted, the weight 19 causes the piston 17 todescend and close the hole 12. The end of the piston descends into v theend of the hole 18 which is below the hole i5 12 and acts as a dash pot?to ease the final descent of the piston.

The volume of gas to the burner may be regulated by turning the valve 16in and out to vary the area of the hole 12 at this point.

The set screw 21 permits adjustment of the bracket 24 to render theinvention applicable to stoves having varying heights from the pipe 9 tothe top of the stove 1.

The end of the lever 27 encircles the stem under the head 29 and forms afairly close fit therewith. WVhen the lever 27 is tilted out of itsnormal horizontal position by the weight of a utensil, theend of thelever 27 binds the stem 20 after the valve is opened. This preventsexcessive movement of the valve mechanism. However, it does not preventthe removal of the valve by direct upward movement of the head 28.

Economy in construction can be accomplished by utilizing appropriatelengths of tubing telescoped one over the other, forced together andheld by frictional contraction.

The weight member 19 can be forced over the upper end of the piston 17the lower end of which is plugged. The sleeve 22 can be forced over thelower end of the tubular Weight 19. This assembly eliminates expensivelathe work and permits the use of standardized tubing. 2

Having thus described this invention what. I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat.- ent is:

1. In combination with' a gas burner, a valve body having a passagetherethrough, said valve body having an opening therein, intersectingsaid passage, acylindrical piston operating in the opening of said valvestem telescoped within the tubular piston, and a trip lever operativelyengaging said stem.

4. In combination with a gas burner, a valve body having a passagetherethrough, an automatic valve controlling said passage, and anadjustable bracket rigid with said valve body and extending over thestove top above the burner, a trip lever fu'lcrumed on the end of saidbracket and operatively engaging .saidautomatic valve and extended abovesaid burner, a pilot'tube fixed in said body and Communicating with thepassage therein and extending to said burner, and a manual valve adaptedto close said passage and pilot tube.

. 5. In combination with a gas burner; a valve body havinga passagetherethrou'gh; said valve body having an opening therein intersectingsaid passage; a piston operating in theopening of said valve body, thelower end of said piston being adapted to close the passage in saidvalve body; a trip leverfuL crumed above the burner and adapted to raisesaid piston entirely above said passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto at fixedniy signature.

' ALBERT J. MILLTGAN V sage, the lower end of said piston being Iadapted to close said passage, a stem in said piston, a trip leverengaging said stem and adapted to bind said stem after a limitedmovement.

In combination with a gas burner, a

valve body having a passage therethrough,

said valve body having an opening therein intersecting said passage,atubular piston operating in said opening, a weight telescoping theupper-end of saidpiston and adapted to lower portion of the weight, anadjustable

